I've run into an issue try to buy a starter for my late 2002 MINI Cooper S with a 6 speed manual.

The first starter I ordered was wrong and the local parts house data base seems to think they're all the same. The only reason I tried a parts house is because I don't want to ship a core.

I'm not interested in buying anything from Autozone, or O'really



How many starters did they make for these cars?

 

Well ordered a Bosch SR0470X hope this is right

 

I've got a MCS with 03/2003 build date.
I put on a BOSCH SR0466X starter from Rock auto for $186.79 and $ 70 core

 

On AutohausAZ that part number kicks back to an automatic S

 

Don't know... I've got the 6MT and it's been fine

 

2002 R53 shows part # 12417570488 on realoem (only manuals back then) which
seems to cross reference to a Bosch SR0466X, although it also works with the R50 with auto CVT.

part # 12417570487 goes with the R50 manual and cross references to a Bosch SR0470X.

 

I'm at a loss, either a lot of vendors parts catalogs are wrong, or I need to go find some gasoline and burn this car to the ground.

I canned that order.

http://www.autohausaz.com/search/pro...d=4152@Starter

 

Have you looked on the Bosch parts Finder? (Google will get you there). It doesn't work on my phone or else I would check.

 

Still kicks back that 470X part number fitting all models. You can't even change the trim or trans in that parts finder.

I've tried NAPA and the 466X Bosch comes back for an automatic.

 

I ended up ordering both starters. I think the 466x is correct. I think we might need to make a sticky. From what I've seen a lot of vendors seem to think these cars are all the same or have poor descriptions on what fits what.

 

There are two starter motors depending if you have the R50 or R53, the snout is different. The R50 is shorter, the R53 and Auto Gearbox is longer.


Edit: Just remembered that Mod Mini did a video on the starter and had the same issue.

The cooper S starter is here http://amzn.to/1GT8ATY

 

What's weird is mine has a short snout and a small pinion. The starter motor I got from a chain parts store had a short snout and huge pinion.

The part number on the dead starter is: 0-001-106-018 which makes no sense

I ended up ordering both the 466x and the 470x and I'll send back the one I don't need with my core. I will post pics of both starters side by side for a possible sticky thread

 

Hey! That's my buddy Kurt's garage! I've spent plenty of time on the floor of that place, helping with three clutch jobs and an R50 cylinder head. You can trust Kurt's advice on the starter, whatever it is (I haven't watched this one).

I solved the what starter fits it problem by having the one in my wife's car rebuilt. Don't know where you live but there is probably a place nearby to you that does rebuilding. The place near me offers quick turnaround and it's run by some old guy that really knows what he is doing, so hopefully you can find a similar place.

Val

 

I'm in North Dakota, so I might as well be on the moon looking for a tire for the lunar rover. IMO it's too risky to send it out for a rebuild. It's not that I doubt the skills of the rebuilders, but I don't think they'll have parts on hand to fix quickly.

 

Ok, just to make sure. I went out and checked my spare starter for a 5 speed R50 and the numbers are.


BOSCH
0 001 106 019
12V
1 489 994 02 B

 

North Dakota native here. You might be surprised- I drove back to see mom in Fargo a few years ago and failed to give my MINI a proper pre-trip inspection. Did the front brakes just before leaving and thought "the rears are still pretty good". Rear brakes started grinding halfway through Montana and was getting harder to stop once I reached Fargo.

O'Rielly's had in stock, brake pads, rotors and the tool you use to spin the rear calipers back in! A few tools from Sears and I was able to do a brake job in Mom's garage, hundreds of miles from where you would think you would have to go to get a brake job done on a MINI.

Many of the internal parts in starters are probably the same- it's probably just the shape of the nose and the bolt patterns that are different between cars. It's been 25 years since I've lived in Fargo, otherwise I could point you to a good place to go for a starter rebuild. Good luck with it!

Val